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Historical Women in Combat

Sword-swinging superbabes are all the rage in Hollywood these days -- it has become the definition of "strong" woman in films -- but does anyone know of any real-world example of any female warriors succeeding in front-line, non-mechanized combat prior to the 21st century?

I'm not talking about figureheads in armor like Boudicca and Joan of Arc, or about fantasy characters like the modern interpretation of Viking Valkyries or Tolkien's Rohan shield maidens; I mean real, actual examples of women who were out there swinging sword spear in front-line combat. Anybody know of one?

I know Joan of Arc was probably a figurehead, given that it WAS the Middle Ages, after all; I'm sure she was more useful to the "powers that be" as an inspiration for the troops, rather than as an actual tactician. But the reports I've heard concerning Boudicca (via Tacitus and Cassius Dio) depict her as an actual warrior-queen who participated in battle.

"There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

The Dahomey are the real world version of the Amazons. Female warriors tend to get airbrushed out of western history, but about 1 in 30 sailors aboard RN ships during the Napoleonic wars were women. If you doubt the females get airbrushed claims, count the number of female resistance fighters in WWII, then extrapolate backwards and wonder why they aren't mentioned in other earlier conflicts.

In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility